[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D509-D510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction 
approved for full Committee action the Military Construction 
appropriations for fiscal year 1997.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security met in 
executive session to begin markup of the defense appropriations for 
fiscal year 1997.
  Will continue tomorrow.
AID WHISTLEBLOWER
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on AID 
Whistleblower. Testimony was heard from Paul Neifert, Foreign Service 
Officer, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency.
SOUTH--CHURCH FIRES
Committee on the Judiciary: Held an oversight hearing on Church fires 
in the South. Testimony was heard from Representative Payne of New 
Jersey; the following officials of the Department of Justice: Deval L. 
Patrick, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division; and Tron W. 
Brekke, Chief, Civil Rights Program, FBI; the following officials of 
the Department of the Treasury: John W. Magaw, Director, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and James E. Johnson, Assistant 
Secretary, Enforcement; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ECOREGION-BASED ASSESSMENTS
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Lands held an oversight hearing on several ecoregion-based assessments 
currently being conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Herger; David Unger, Associate Chief, Forest 
Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources held 
an oversight hearing on Bonneville Power Administration operations and 
status of the Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Energy System. 
Testimony was heard from Jack Robertson, Deputy Chief Executive 
Officer, Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy; and 
public witnesses.

[[Page D510]]


SMALL BUSINESS JOB PROTECTION ACT; PORTAL-TO-PORTAL ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on Rules: granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing for consideration in the House of H.R. 3448, Small Business 
Job Protection Act of 1996, without the intervention of a point of 
order except those arising under sec. 425(a) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting unfunded mandates). The rule provides 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Ways and Means shall be considered as read and all points 
of order are waived against said substitute except those arising under 
sec. 425(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
  The rule provides that the bill and committee amendment shall be 
debatable for one hour, divided between the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The previous 
question is considered as ordered on the bill and the committee 
amendment to final passage without intervening motion except one motion 
to recommit, with or without instructions. The rule further provides 
that the provisions of clause 5(c) of rule XXI (requiring a three-
fifths vote on bills, amendments, and conference reports containing 
income tax rate increases) shall not apply to the bill, amendments 
thereto, or conference reports thereon.
  After the disposition of H.R. 3448, it shall be in order to consider 
in the House, H.R. 1227, to amend the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 
relating to the payment of wages to employees who use employer-owned 
vehicles, without intervening point of order except those arising under 
sec. 425(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting 
unfunded mandates). The rule provides that the amendment in the nature 
of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Economic and 
Educational Opportunities, as modified by the amendment printed in 
section 3 of the rule adding a short title, is considered as adopted.
  The previous question is ordered without intervening motion except: 
(1) ninety minutes of debate divided between the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Economic and Educational 
Opportunities; (2) an amendment printed in part 1 of the report of the 
Committee on Rules if offered by Representative Riggs of California or 
his designee, debatable for ninety minutes; (3) an amendment printed in 
part 2 of the report of the Committee on Rules if offered by 
Representative Goodling of Pennsylvania or his designee, debatable for 
one hour and subject to a division of the question between subsection 
3(d) (small business exemption) and the remainder of the amendment; and 
(4) one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
  The rule provides that each amendment made in order is considered as 
read, is not subject to amendment or point of order, except those 
arising under sec. 425(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The 
rule provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 3448, the Clerk shall 
await the disposition of H.R. 1227 and shall add the text of H.R. 1227 
as passed by the House. Finally, the rule provides that upon the 
addition of the text of H.R. 1227 to the engrossment of H.R. 3448, H.R. 
1227 shall be laid on the table. Testimony was heard from Chairman 
Goodling and the following Representatives: Fawell, Hutchinson, 
Lightfoot, Dickey, Campbell, Quinn, Shays, English of Pennsylvania, 
Shaw, Clay, Rangel and Neal of Massachusetts.

Joint Meetings
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate-and House-
passed versions of H.R. 1617, to consolidate Federal employment 
training, vocational education, and adult education programs and create 
integrated statewide workforce development systems, but did not 
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Thursday, May 23.